Saif Al-Dossari
Most patients reported social media influence when pursuing upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Although satisfaction was high overall, strong social media influence was associated with slightly lower satisfaction at three months, largely related to recovery expectations rather than major aesthetic failure. Incorporating targeted counseling about realistic outcomes, scar maturation, and recovery timelines may help align expectations and optimize patient satisfaction.
PURPOSE: To examine whether the degree of social media influence on decision-making is associated with postoperative satisfaction among adults undergoing upper eyelid blepharoplasty.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: A quantitative observational comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 adults who underwent elective upper eyelid blepharoplasty at the polyclinics of King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, and attended the 3-month follow-up. Participants self-reported the extent to which social media influenced their decision (strong, moderate, minimal, or none) using a structured questionnaire. Social media platforms and content types were recorded, and postoperative satisfaction at three months was assessed using a structured satisfaction tool. Descriptive statistics summarized patterns of influence and satisfaction, and satisfaction rates were compared across influence categories (p < 0.05).
RESULTS: Overall, 440/500 (88%) participants reported some degree of social media influence: 220/500 (44%) strong, 140/500 (28%) moderate, and 80/500 (16%) minimal; 60/500 (12%) reported no influence. Instagram and TikTok were the most frequently cited platforms (41% and 27%, respectively), and before-and-after images were the most influential content type (64%). Postoperative satisfaction at three months was high overall but differed by influence intensity: 86% in the strong influence group (190/220), 96% in the moderate influence group (135/140), and 93% among patients with minimal or no influence (130/140). Among dissatisfied strongly influenced patients (n = 30), the most commonly reported reasons were more visible scarring than expected (50%) and longer-than-expected swelling (27%).
CONCLUSION: Most patients reported social media influence when pursuing upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Although satisfaction was high overall, strong social media influence was associated with slightly lower satisfaction at three months, largely related to recovery expectations rather than major aesthetic failure. Incorporating targeted counseling about realistic outcomes, scar maturation, and recovery timelines may help align expectations and optimize patient satisfaction.